Photo Courtesy ABC TV Network
Jim Pendergast; Junior, the golden retriever; Charlotte Pendergast and Laura Curley-Pendergast will be featured on ABC’s “Born to Explore” on Saturday at 10 a.m.

ONEIDA>> Laura Curley-Pendergast a 1979 Oneida High School graduate, will be appearing on ABC’s “Born to Explore” on April 26 with her dog, Junior, and his inspirational tale.

Three years ago, Junior suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed, unable to use his back legs. Unsatisfied with dealing with the possibility that their dog could never walk again, the Pendergast family did some research and found Eddie’s Wheels, a Western Massachusetts company that specializes in wheelchairs for dogs. After weeks of training in his new cart, Curley-Pendergast said that Junior was still struggling with the device. It took a trip to the beach to really loosen him up and get him moving again.

“As the summer progressed, during his daily walks on the beach, we realized the unbelievable inspiring effect he had on every one person he met,” Curley-Pendergast said in an email. “Some of whom were trying to overcome physical injuries and others who were trying to overcome emotional challenges. Each person who met Junior was inspired by his amazing ability to go on with his life without any hint of self-pity. He still greeted and kissed everyone he met and showed them the endless supply of love he has.”

Junior doesn’t stop there though; Curley-Pendergast said that he is an inspiration for wounded veterans and others in wheelchairs as well and a constant fount of attention.

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“At first, we thought that this was the worst thing that has ever happened to any of my pets,” Curley-Pendergast said. “But as time went on we realized that Junior’s lack of self-pity, ability to inspire others and his positive outlook on life, doing the best with what he has has been a humbling lesson for our family and many who meet him.”

Curley-Pendergast along with four-year-old daughter Charlotte and husband Jim Pendergast will be appearing alongside junior in ABC’s “Born to Explore” on April 26 at 10 a.m. Curley-Pendergast’s Mother, Maria Curley, still lives in Oneida on Main Street.

About the Author

Until December, 2014, Nick will was a staff writer at the Oneida Daily Dispatch. Hailing from Madison. Nick is a 2012 SUNY Plattsburgh graduate. In his time at The Dispatch, he focused on education, history and community events coverage in Madison and Southern Oneida counties. Reach the author at nwill@oneidadispatch.com
or follow Nick on Twitter: @DispatchNick.